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Liverpool now have the mental toughness to join the big noises in the title argument.

That is the message from the Reds' boss, Brendan Rodgers, as he continues to look beyond the target of a top four place, towards the fight for the biggest prize of all.

The Northern Irishman, like his players, was energised by a thrilling victory at Stoke last week, and even though they are competing against the mega-rich clubs with massive European squads, Rodgers is itching for a scrap.

"Stoke was a benchmark because it shows our mental endurance and mental fitness has improved. it shows we can go to any stadium anywhere and have no fear," he explained.

"It was a poignant win, because I remember going there a year ago, on Boxing Day; we lost, I travelled home and even though the family was round, I went straight up to the bedroom and didn't come back down because it was so disappointing.

"Now I look, a year on, and see all the things I would want in our team, not just football qualities but personality traits in the team, and we are seeing that even more now."

Liverpool's stated aim all season has been to secure one of the top four places and return to the Champions League, but Rodgers believes his side have the star quality to now aim higher.

"Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea are based around Champions League squads. They have been religiously in there and they have got a lot of depth that they can call upon," he explained.

"We have got all of those teams (in top 6) to play at home and we are only six points off the top of the Premier League, so you have to feel you are involved in that argument. If we have the fortune to stay clear of injury I would put our team up against anyone. I would never give up the fight.

"Our challenge is to get to fourth, but once you can do that, it is all about seeing if you can go beyond that. We just need that bit of luck to be able to manage the team.

"You can see it's an open Premier League, so the team that can make the least amount of mistakes and continue to evolve can hopefully win out at the end - and I think the footballing teams can come into their own at this stage of the season as well."

One of the biggest weaknesses in Liverpool's attractive attacking line-up is that so few of their players have been involved in the Premier League title race before.

"Of course it doesn't have the glory of the Premier League, but for that level it was a big prize at the end for the teams who get promoted," he added. "There was pressure on because it is life changing if you go from the Championship into the Premier League, and I think it can help me as a manager, because it is pressure, and whatever way that comes you look to deal with that.

"I think the idea I have always tried to impose on a team is the feeling that there is no opposition or ground that we will fear. We will just look to go and play our game and that is very, very important.